Heartland is pleased to announce our membership in the Global Network Initiative (GNI) as part of its investor constituency. In response, Heartland’s co-founder and president, Sam Jones, stated, “Heartland works with investors to advance corporate accountability for human rights harms in the ICT sector, with an emphasis on the use of emerging technologies in conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRA). GNI’s commitment to advancing freedom of expression and privacy rights in ICT — through standard-setting and shaping company practice — is a natural complement to our work on targeted and mass surveillance technologies, the growing risks posed by the military application of AI in CAHRA, and the rise of ‘defense tech’ more broadly.”

GNI sets a global standard for responsible company decision-making to promote and advance freedom of expression and privacy rights across the technology ecosystem. GNI is the leading multistakeholder forum for accountability, shared learning, and collective advocacy on government and company policies and practices at the intersection of technology and human rights.

“We are very excited to welcome Sarasin & Partners and Heartland Initiative to GNI. Their experience and expertise in using investor influence to encourage company efforts to respect human rights will strengthen GNI in many ways.”

— Jason Pielemeier, Executive Director of Global Network Initiative